Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 25, 2022
Submitted:
January 25, 2022
Observer:
SAC - Davis
Zone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley Mtns
Location:
Morgan Ridge (W-N-E, 6,000-8,000')

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
No obvious signs of instability.

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Very Good
Confidence in Rating: 
High
Stability Trend: 
Steady

Bottom Line

An inch of new snow last night covered a mix of weak snow surfaces including surface hoar and facets with and without crusts beneath. Very small surface hoar was already growing again on last night's snow up to 7,800'. Weak snow near the ground on a 7,800' N-facing slope produced propagating snowpack test scores.

Media/Attachments

Thinning snow cover on SW and W facing slopes on Triple Peak.
Sun, wind, and warm temps have wreaked havoc in exposed, low and mid elevation terrain of the Wood River Valley. Morgan Ridge above Trail Creek.
Scouring along Phi Kappa Ridge.
An inch of new snow covering thick surface hoar that grew on a top of a stout crust. 6,400' W aspect.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Clear
Temperature:
20s F
Wind:
Light , NW
New/Recent Snowfall:
~1" HST

Clear and cool. Light NNW wind with moderate gusts along Morgan Ridge. Small amounts of sifting going on but very little/no snow available for transport.

Avalanche Observations

No avalanches were observed.

Snowpack Observations

It snowed about an inch here last night covering a mix of crusts, facets, surface hoar, or a combination of the three. Some sifting of snow was occurring but there were no fresh wind drifts to speak of. There was some significant wind affect at upper elevation near Trail Ck Summit.

North-facing slopes had a fresh batch of surface hoar forming already. I observed this as high as 7,800'. The upper 20-40 cm was heavily faceted. The facet skiing got deeper near the valley floor but I was never wallowing. HS on shaded slopes was 60-100 cm, right-side-up (F->1F) down to 12/11 (4F or F, 3 mm DH). Old October snow was barely thick enough to cover surface roughness here. It produced an ECTX and ECTP28.

West, southwest, and south-facing slopes are losing a lot of snow cover, particularly near anything that's seen wind. HS ranged from 0 to 40 cm. Stout crusts were everywhere. I also found surface hoar and facets above the crust on many slopes. Below the crusts the shallow snowpack was completely faceted.

Snowpack on Morgan Ridge E of Sun Valley. NNW-facing slope at 7,800'. ECTX, ECTP28 near the ground.

Avalanche Problems

No avalanche problems.

Terrain Use

I did not close avalanche terrain. I skied steep N-facing slopes near and below the elevation where old October snow exists.